Dual function bracelet

ABSTRACT

A dual function bracelet is formed of a first layer of a resilient flexible material shaped with a width-wise arc; and a set of first tick marks disposed on a bottom surface, the first tick marks being spaced and indicative of standard length increments. The first layer presents a linear orientation in an extended configuration, and presents a coiled orientation when in a wearable configuration initiated by deforming the width-wise arc. The dual function bracelet is dimensioned to encircle a wearer&#39;s wrist in the wearable configuration, providing a decorative function. Additionally, the dual function bracelet presents a ruler in the extended configuration, allowing the dual function bracelet to function as a measurement device.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/165,291, filed Jun. 21, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wearable accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bracelet capable of functioning as a ruler.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Easy access to a ruler or other measuring device is desirable in many orientations of modern life, whether as part of a professional set of tools or for purposes of education, as in the case of students. However, a ruler is generally a cumbersome device to carry on one's person at all times. Consequently, when a measurement needs to be made, time is required to locate and retrieve a ruler.

A need thus exists for a device which conveniently allows a ruler to be carried at all times.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An object of the present invention is providing a wearable accessory, such as a bracelet, on which a ruler is provided.

The dual function bracelet of the present invention is formed of a first layer of a resilient flexible material shaped with a width-wise arc; and a set of first tick marks disposed on a bottom surface of the bracelet, the first tick marks being spaced and indicative of standard length increments. The first layer presents a linear orientation in an extended configuration, and presents a coiled orientation when in a wearable configuration initiated by deforming the width-wise arc. The dual function bracelet is dimensioned to encircle a wearer's wrist in the wearable configuration, providing a decorative function on the top surface of the bracelet. Additionally, the dual function bracelet presents a ruler in the extended configuration, allowing the dual function bracelet to function as a measurement device.

The bottom surface of the bracelet is defined by a convex side formed by the width-wise arc, and the top surface of the bracelet is defined by a concave side formed by the width-wise arc. The set of first tick marks define a ruler, which is marked off in unit of length, such as in the imperial system, for example, inches, or in the metric system, such as millimeters and/or centimeters.

In an embodiment, the top surface of the bracelet is a surface of a second layer formed of a material selected from the group normally used in slap bracelets, such as fabric, leather, plastic, silicone and the like, the second layer having a decorative appearance. The bottom surface of the bracelet, in another embodiment, is a surface of a third layer formed of a material normally used in a slap bracelet, such as fabric, leather, plastic, silicone and the like. In another embodiment, the top surface of the bracelet is a surface of a second layer formed of a material selected from the group normally used in slap bracelets, such as fabric, leather, plastic, silicone and the like, the second layer having a decorative appearance, and the bottom surface of the bracelet, in another embodiment, is a surface of a third layer formed of a material normally used in a slap bracelet, such as fabric, leather, plastic, silicone and the like.

In an alternate embodiment, the bottom surface is a surface of the first layer.

In an alternative embodiment, a set of second tick marks disposed on the bottom surface at an opposing side to the set of first tick marks are also provided. The second tick marks are spaced and indicative of standard length increments, and define a ruler in a different standard in length relative to the first set of tick marks. For example, the first set of tick marks may be in the Imperial system, such as inches, while the second set of tick marks, may be in the metric system, such as millimeters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, orientations, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a decorative top surface of an embodiment of the present invention in an extended configuration;

FIG. 2 illustrates an obverse surface of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 in a wearable configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below, with reference made to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. Structures and features of the embodiment that are identical in the figures are identified by identical reference numerals throughout the figures.

As shown in FIG. 1, the top surface 102 of the dual function bracelet 100 of the present invention is provided with a graphic or other ornamental design 104. The top surface 102 and the ornamental design 104 will be visibly displayed when the dual function bracelet is in the coiled wearable configuration shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the top surface 102 may be provided with words, logos, or left blank.

The obverse surface 202, shown in FIG. 2, includes imperial tick marks 204 that are spaced to correspond to standard measurement increments in imperial (i.e., inches), metric or other standard units of linear measurement. The tick marks 204 may be spaced at any commonly used division such as ¼, ⅛ or 1/16 of an inch. Additionally, a subset of the tick marks 204 may be varied in length and or thickness to correspond to the various divisions. Moreover, a numeral 208 may be placed adjacent to one or more tick marks to indicate a whole increment of the unit of measurement, such as an inch or a centimeter or the like.

Alternative to, or in combination with the tick marks 204 incremented in, for example, imperial units, a second set of tick marks 206 may be provided incremented in a second unit of linear measurement, such as metric units. The metric tick marks 206 are preferably disposed opposite to the imperial tick marks 204. Each set of tick marks 204 and 206 are identified with a corresponding unit symbol, for example “In.” for inch and “cm.” for centimeter. As with the imperial tick marks 204, the metric tick marks 206 are spaced to correspond to standard metric measurement increments, most preferably in one millimeter increments. Each full centimeter increment may be identified by a corresponding numeral 210, as well.

In the extended configuration, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the dual function bracelet 100 takes on a linear orientation. In an embodiment, the dual function bracelet 100 is dimensioned to accommodate a ruler having a length of 12 inches. In the embodiment, the dual function bracelet 100 would be 12.5 inches in length, for example. However, the present invention contemplates other lengths as well. For example, in the case where the metric system of measurement is used or preferred, the ruler may have a length of 30 cm and the dual function bracelet 100 may be 31 cm in length. As a further example, the dual function bracelet 100 may have a length of 6.5 inches and accommodate a ruler of 6 inches. The width of the dual function bracelet may be appropriately selected from the range of 1 inch to 2 inches or any other width customarily used for slap bracelets.

An additional consideration for determining the range of lengths of the dual function bracelet 100 appropriate for the present invention is the circumference of a wearer's wrist. In the case where the dual function bracelet 100 is intended for school-aged wearers between the ages of, for example, 6 through 14, the dual function bracelet 100 may be shorter in length than in a case where the intended wearer may be an adult. The dual function bracelet 100 should in all cases be dimensioned to comfortably fit around an intended wearer's wrist when in the wearable configuration shown in FIG. 4. However, as noted above, an embodiment of the present invention is a 12 inch ruler, as this is a standardized length of ruler used in the United States.

FIG. 3 presents a cross-sectional, cut-away view of the dual function bracelet 100 of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the dual function bracelet 100 is constructed of a first layer 302 formed of a resilient flexible metal. As understood in the art, a resilient flexible metal is a metal or metal alloy that is bendable but will return to its original form once a bending force is removed. The first layer 302 is sandwiched between a second layer 306 and a third layer 304 formed of fabric, plastic, leather, silicone or other materials having similar properties, namely, thin, non-allergenic and flexible, normally found in slap bracelets. The second layer 306 and the third layer 304 may or may not be formed of the same materials.

The dual function bracelet 100 is formed into a width-wise arc, as shown in FIG. 3. A convex side of the width-wise arc defines the bottom surface of the dual function bracelet, and the top surface is defined by a concave side of the width-wise arc in the extended configuration. The width-wise arc is maintained by the first layer 302 when the dual function bracelet 100 is in the extended configuration. However, deforming the width-wise arc by pressing down on the crown of the width-wise arc, indicated by arrow 310, causes the dual function bracelet 100 to transition from the extended configuration to the wearable configuration.

The deformation of the width-wise arc can be initiated by, for example, slapping the width-wise arc in the extended configuration against the wearer's wrist 402 with a light force, such that the bottom surface 202 of the dual function bracelet 100 comes in contact with the wearer's wrist 402. Such an action will cause the dual function bracelet 100 to coil around the wearer's wrist 402, as shown in FIG. 4, with the top surface 102 facing outward.

Alternative construction of the dual function bracelet 100 of the present invention is also contemplated by the present disclosure. For example, the first layer 302 may be formed of a resilient flexible plastic or silicone. In the case where the first layer 302 is a plastic material, the second layer 306 and third layer 304 may not be necessary.

The second layer 306 and the third layer 304 are optional. In an embodiment, the bracelet may have the second layer 304, but not the third layer. In another embodiment, the bracelet may have the third layer 304, but not the second layer 306. In another embodiment, the bracelet may have both layers. The purpose of the second layer 306 and the third layer 304 are primarily to protect the wearer against abrasion resulting from contact between the first layer 302, which may have sharp or hard edges, and the wearer's skin. This is primarily a concern when the first layer 302 is metal. Additionally, the second layer 306 is selected to provide suitable surface for printing and/or embossing decorative designs on the second layer 306 and the third layer 304 is selected to provide suitable surface for ruler tick marks on the third layer 304. If the first layer 302 satisfies the conditions outlined above for the second layer 306 and the third layer 304, the ensuing embodiment of the present invention may forego the second layer 306 and the third layer 304 altogether, having the decorative design and the ruler tick marks instead formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the first layer 302.

In an alternative embodiment, the dual function bracelet may be formed with one or more holes, indentations, projections, etchings, or ajoure. However, in all cases the type and extent of the ornamentations formed on the dual function bracelet of the present invention is limited by the need for the dual function bracelet to be usable as a ruler when in an extended configuration and wearable about a wear's wrist when in a coiled configuration.

As used hereinabove, the term layer is not intended to be limited to a singular layer, but rather may include structures where multiple layers are combined to function as the described layer. Thus, the first layer, as described above, may be formed from a single layer or may be a combination of layers used to provide the structural shape and behavior of the dual function bracelet. The second and third layers may be individual layers or may be multiple layers that combine to perform the intended function of protecting the first layer from damage resulting from normal wear, imparting comfort to the wearer, and providing a surface for forming the ornamental designs and the ruler tick marks, respectively.

Additionally, the present invention is not limited to these three layers. Additional layers may be applied, such as a clear protective film covering the surface of the second and/or third layers in order to protect the ornamental designs and tick marks from wear.

The described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and are not intended to represent every embodiment of the present invention. Various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims both literally and in equivalents recognized in law. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual function bracelet comprising: a first layer formed of a resilient flexible material shaped with a width-wise arc; and a set of first tick marks disposed on a bottom surface, the first tick marks being spaced and indicative of standard length increments; wherein the first layer presents a linear orientation in an extended configuration, and presents a coiled orientation when in a wearable configuration initiated by deforming the width-wise arc.
 2. The dual function bracelet as in claim 1, wherein the bottom surface is defined by a convex side formed by the width-wise arc, and a top surface is defined by a concave side formed by the width-wise arc.
 3. The dual function bracelet as in claim 2, wherein the first layer is formed of a metal.
 4. The dual function bracelet as in claim 3, wherein the top surface is a surface of a second layer formed of a material selected from the group consisting of fabric, leather, silicone, and plastic, the second layer having a decorative appearance.
 5. The dual function bracelet as in claim 4, wherein the bottom surface is a third layer, the third layer being formed of a material selected from the group consisting of fabric, leather, silicone, and plastic.
 6. The dual function bracelet as in claim 4, wherein the decorative appearance consists of one or more of ornamental designs, logos, words, phrases, and colors.
 7. The dual function bracelet as in claim 2, wherein the first layer is formed of a plastic material.
 8. The dual function bracelet as in claim 7, wherein the bottom surface is a surface of the first layer.
 9. The dual function bracelet as in claim 1, wherein the set of first tick marks define a ruler in inches.
 10. The dual function bracelet as in claim 9, further comprising a set of second tick marks disposed on the bottom surface at an opposing side to the set of first tick marks, the second tick marks being spaced and indicative of standard length increments, and defining a ruler in centimeters.
 11. The dual function bracelet as in claim 1, wherein the set of first tick marks define a ruler in centimeters.
 12. The dual function bracelet as in claim 2, wherein the first layer is formed of a silicone material. 